What Does God Require

Part I

Presented to:

Bethel Chapel Pentecostal Church

Auditorium Sunday School Class

Granite City, IL

10 February 2019

Updated: February 24, 2019

By:

Boyce Belt

What Does God Require

Part I

Opening:

• (Slide) “We cannot pray in love and live in hate and still think we are worshipping God.” —A.W. Tozer^[1]
• Prayer
• There are two places in Scripture that the question is asked, “What doeth the Lord require?”: Deuteronomy 10:11 and Micah 6:8.  This morning we will consider Deuteronomy 10 and next week will look at Micah 6.

Text:

Deuteronomy 10:12-13 (KJV) And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, 13 To keep the commandments of the Lord, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?

Introduction:

In this passage there are five concise requirements in which the central one is love.  These related statements are all integrated around love.^[2]

1. Fear The Lord

1. Reverence, Respect, Hold in Awe
2. The Purpose of Scripture

1. Deuteronomy 6:1-2 (KJV) 1 Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it: 2 That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.
2. Deuteronomy 17:18-19 (KJV) 18  And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: 19  And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them:

3. For Our Preservation—Deuteronomy 6:24 (KJV) 24  And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day.

2. Walk In God’s Ways

1. Examples

1. Adam—Genesis 3:8 (KJV) And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.
2. Enoch—Genesis 5:22-24 (KJV) And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: 23 And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: 24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

2. Walk in the Spirit—Galatians 5:16-17 (KJV) This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
3. Walk Circumspectly

1. Ephesians 5:15-16 (KJV) See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
2. Webster’s 1828: Cautiously; with watchfulness every way; with attention to guard against surprise or danger.

3. Love God

1. In Sincerity (without hypocrisy)
2. Because of Who He Is

1. Repeatedly God emphasized to Israel the necessity of love that comes from the heart.  God did not want His people to substitute heartfelt love for Him with mere outward religious forms, such as keeping commandments, offering sacrifices, etc.  It was necessary that they always obey God from a heart that sincerely loved and honored Him.  For New Testament believers, faith and love from the heart are also essential to our relationship with God.  It is indeed possible to read Scripture, pray, attend church and partake of the Lord’s Supper without a heartfelt devotion to God Himself.  Outward obedience and correct religious practices have validity and significance only if they are based on knowing Jesus Christ through sincere faith in and love for Him, because of who He is and what He has done for us.^[3]
2. Because of Who You Are

You spoke the words and all the worlds came into order

You waved your hands and planets filled the empty skies

You placed the woman and the man inside the garden

And though they fell they found compassion in your eyes

Oh Lord I stand amazed at the wonder of your deeds

And yet a greater wonder brings me to my knees

Lord I praise you, because of who you are

Not for all the mighty things that you have done

Lord, I worship you, because of who you are

You're all the reason that I need to voice my praise

Because of who you are

One holy night you brought Your promise from a virgin

And promise grew as he revealed to us your heart

Enduring love displayed throughout his Crucifixion

And in the dark, you tore the grave and death apart

3. Maintain Your Love—Revelation 2:1-7 (KJV) Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; 2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. 4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. 6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.  7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

4. Serve God

1. Labor
2. Giving
3. Worship—some translations have worship God in place of serve God.  The two cannot be separated.  Our service is worship and our worship is service.

5. Keep His Commands

1. Obedience Required
2. Proof of Love—John 14:15 (KJV) If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Conclusion:

William Samuel Johnson (1727-1819), president of Columbia University (formerly King’s College), said to the first graduating class after the Revolutionary war:

        You have…received a public education, the purpose whereof hath been to qualify you the better to serve your creator and your country….Your first great duties… are those you owe to Heaven, to your Creator and Redeemer.  Let these be ever present to your minds and exemplified in your lives and conduct.

        Imprint deep upon your minds the principles of piety toward God and a reverence and fear of His holy name.  The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom and its consummation is everlasting felicity….Remember, too, that you are the redeemed of the Lord, that you are bought with a price, even the inestimable price of the precious blood of the Son of God.  Adore Jehovah, therefore, as you God and your Judge.  Love, fear, and serve Him as your Creator , Redeemer, and Sanctifier.  Acquaint yourselves with Him in His Word and holy ordinances.

        Make Him your friend and protector and your felicity is secured both here and hereafter.  And with respect to particular duties to Him, it is your happiness that you are well assured that he best serves his Maker, who does most good to his country and to mankind.^[4]

Next Week: What Does God Require—Part II Micah 6:8

Prayer